Why does Amarillo smell bad?

There are over 60 feed yards and multiple dairies located in the 5 counties West and Southwest of Amarillo. Approximately one third of those feed yards, and one half of the dairies, are located in Deaf Smith County southwest of Amarillo. Hereford, Texas, the County Seat of Deaf Smith County, is home to a world-renowned cattle industry.

Hereford feeds more than 1 million head of cattle annually within its nearby feed yards. Hereford helps to produce enough beef every year to feed 65 million people (based on worldwide average consumption). 

Dairies in the Hereford area produce over 1 billion pounds of milk on an annual basis. That equates to 125 million gallons of milk, 100 million pounds of cheese, 47 million pounds of butter, and 125 million gallons of ice cream. 

As you might expect, cattle feeding and farming have a symbiotic relationship. Manure from dairies and feedlots is used as soil amendment and fertilizer on fields which produce grain and silage that are fed to the cattle.

The Hereford area produces over a billion pounds of grain every year and over 80 percent of the world’s sorghum originated in Deaf Smith County. Certain times of year when manure is being harvested and spread over fields the aroma peaks and becomes noticeable, but that aroma comes with a substantial paycheck.

How big, you may ask?

Try $1,200,000,000 big. Yes, that’s billion with a “B”. So, a few times a year we are willing to put up with a slightly unpleasant aroma. Because, in the end ,it is a huge part of our economy.

Want to learn more about the Hereford economy? Check out more of our content on our site, or contact us here.